Insight into band positions and inter-particle electron transfer dynamics between CdS nanoclusters and spatially isolated TiO2 dispersed in cubic MCM-48 mesoporous materials: a highly efficient system for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution under visible light illumination

Abstract

CdS incorporated Si-MCM-48 and Ti-MCM-48 cubic phased mesoporous photocatalysts were prepared by a two-step modification synthetic approach under relatively mild conditions. A highly efficient (24.8%, apparent quantum yield (AQY)) photocatalyst for visible light (λ > 400 nm) enabled solar hydrogen evolution can be realized by assembling CdS with Ti-MCM-48 cubic mesoporous materials in the absence of a noble metal co-catalyst. The photocatalytic mechanism was thoroughly investigated and demonstrated by conducting a wealth of characterization techniques such as powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption isotherm, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UVPS), atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, time-resolved fluorescence emission decay, and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy studies. This work is the first to unambiguously identify the band positions of both CdS and TiO₂ encapsulated in porous materials. The photocatalytic activity of the CdS incorporated Ti-MCM-48 mesoporous photocatalysts was found to be dependent on the content of both CdS and TiO₂. A correlation between the electron injection efficiency and the photocatalytic activity was established as well in the CdS incorporated Ti-MCM-48 mesoporous photocatalysts.